Wild-Caught Bugs

[mommycurzon]

I was wondering about wild-caught food for a chameleon.

I understand that in the city you risk contamination of bugs with fertilizers and chemicals like that. I work in the country, just outside of London, ON. The office is surrounded with a creek, forests and a farmer's field (that's been left un-treated and un-planted for 3 years).

I'd like to provide my future critter the best variety I can and with suppliers in our area only carrying the most common (crickets, mealworms, waxworms and hornworms), I'd like to give him or her more variety. Would I be wisest to catch them @ work or @ home (which is in the city)? Would it really make much difference?

Is there any websites or previous posts about the topic I can research more of this topic on?

 

[jojackson]

No doubt there are plenty of threads about it, folk tend to worry about parasites, personally I dont think its really a concern like pesticides.
If you can catch bugs in the countryside, I say go for it, your animal will love it. Just beware really colorful ones, as this often indicates they are toxic.
Plain colored moths, any grasshoppers, stick insects/mantids and the like are all good.
Chams seem to have a thing about green insects, sends em bonkers, they love em!

 

[mommycurzon]

You are awesome! Thanks a bunch!!!!

 

[jannb]

I try very hard to keep my guys from eating wild bugs outside. I take them out just about daily.......if the weather permits and sometime they snatch a fly or other bug before I can stop them. They both have had parasites before a couple of times; which I believe was cause from the wild bugs.